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BJP, Congress heading for a clash over deputy speaker's post

The stage is set for a keen contest between the combined Opposition's Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party candidates for the post of the deputy speaker, Lok Sabha, despite both the groups claiming that they favour a consensus for the post.

While the Congress has almost finalised the candidature of P M Sayeed, the nine-time MP from Lakshadweep, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madanlal Khurana said Prime Minister A B Vajpayee has asked him to sound out their allies on the course of action to be taken in this regard.

From the BJP's side, the names of Shanta Kumar, Lakshminarain Pande and former deputy speaker Mallikarjuniah are doing the rounds.

Leader of the Opposition Sharad Pawar said the Congress would prefer a consensus on this post since it had been held by the Opposition for nearly two decades. If it was not forthcoming, the party has decided to contest, he said, adding the party has already secured the support of the Left parties, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Samajwadi Party. He and P Shiv Shankar are now talking to small parties like the Janata Dal and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in an effort to secure their support for the Congress candidate.

Pawar also made it clear that the Congress would not accept the ruling BJP's position that since it had supported the Congress candidate Dr Najma Heptulla for the post of deputy chairperson in the Rajya Sabha, it should reciprocate in the Lok Sabha.

Khurana said his party would favour a consensus. But the prime minister had asked him to hold talks with alliance partners to decide whether it should go in for a contest.

The ruling BJP coalition avoided the elections during the last session since this would amount to a virtual trial of strength, especially when they were not sure of the support of the 24- member AIADMK group from Tamil Nadu. The coalition has since worked out a settlement with the AIADMK, and the numbers should no longer pose a problem.

UNI

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